Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-30
The Commission.

In the state Senate yesterday there was q
spirited debate on the House resolution in
regard to the appointment Of a commission
to meet the foreign bondholders.
An effort was made TO amend the resolu.
ton SO as to emphasize the declaration that
the Riddleberger act WAS TO be taken as q
basis of any settlement which might be
agreed upon. This was lost by vote of II
to u.
Mr.. Wickham said that he was unwilling
to add to the dishonor OF Virginia, and I'M.
willing to invite the bondhoders to meet US
while we are concealipg the fact that their
proposition is no more acceptable to us than
the Riddleberger bill is to them. The com
mission should meet them on free and equal
grounds. He believed that the bondholders
on the receipt Of the amended resolution
would send committee empowered to
make u settlement that would be satisfac
tory to us. But they should not be led to
believe that the Governor had powers out
side of those granted to the commission. 1t
was only fair and just, if the Legislature was
determined to accept no other basis Of set.
Element THAI the Riddleberger bill, that the
bondholders should be informed of this de-
termination.
Mr. Ellyson thought the resolution kuf-
ficienlly explicit In his opinion the bond
holders would understand the phrase laval.
able revenue" 10 imply a settlement on the
basis CT the Riddeberger bill, as it has been
so often stated that that bill applied the
available revenue to the payment OF the
debt
Mr. Stubs supported the original resolu-
tion as did MIR. Heaton, who thought the
creditors were fully informed that all par
ties in Virginia stood by the Riddleberger
bill, and no additional declarations were
needed. He was opposed to putting in the
message what everybody understood.
The resolution was then adopted-ayes
% noes 10.
The resolutions are tho samn as those
adopted by The House, except that the limit
fixed for the meeting of the two commissions
is mot later than April 90" instead of April
II, as agreed upon by the House The
House concurred in the change of time.
The action of the Senate having been
communicated to the House the Speaker at
once laid the resolution before the body,
and the amendment was agreed to without
division.
Mr. Fggat moved that the Speaker APP
point the gentleman from Alexandria the
Speaker as chairman of the commission on
the part of the House. He thought it emf
nently desirable to have Mr.. Stuart n mem
Der of the committee, and rs the Speaker
bad the appointment Off he would not, Of
course appoint himself unless the House in.
dcated that he should so do.
The motion was agreed 10.
Gov. Lee sent the following cable dispatch
last night
Right Hon. E. p. BOurerie, Chairman Of Figiaia
Committee Corporation Of FOREIGN BOndholders,
London, England
& joint committee Of three Senators and five
Representatives has been appointed by the Legs
lature to receive in Richmond commission from
your council at as early day practicable, not
later than April 20 next. This legislative COM
mittee is charged with the duty of meeting your
commission and ascertaining what amount of the
bonds of Virginia is owned controlled by said
council of foreign bondholders, to demonstrate to
said commission the inability of the people OF the
State TO bear greater burden of taxation, and
also to show what are the revenues and the neces-
ssry expenditures of the government and the
available revenues for the payment of interest,
aod to point out to them that which addresses
itself to their interest as well as the interest of
the State. A conference Of your representative
committee is particularly desirable now, because
the General Assembly, being in session, can act at
oIce on the result reached by the joint commits